Veintidós (22)

Veintidós (22)

Summary

As Antonio sleeps, Lupito, Narciso, and Florence appear
in Antonio’s dreams. They say that Antonio prayed the Act of Final
Contrition for them “in his innocence” even though they were outcasts. When
Antonio asks why he must see so much violence, a voice tells him
that creation lies in violence. Antonio watches a priest defile
an altar with pigeon’s blood and Cico defile the river with the
golden carp’s blood. He has a vision of Tenorio murdering Ultima
by killing her “night-spirit.” Antonio cries out, “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me!” Narciso, Florence, and Lupito tell Antonio
that they live only in his dreams. When Antonio awakes,
Ultima suggests that he go to his uncles in El Puerto. Antonio has
seen too much death. His uncles can teach him about growing life.
Before he leaves, Ultima advises him to be ready to make life’s
changes part of his strength.

Gabriel explains that he does not mind sending Antonio
to María’s brothers because he will still be with men who can guide him
into manhood. He admits that the vaquero’s way of life is fading,
so he is ready to end the long conflict with María. Antonio replies
that he wants to be both a Luna and a Márez. Gabriel explains that
every man takes his past and makes something new with it. As Antonio
muses out loud that it is possible to make a new religion, he asks
his father if the priest who led the Lunas to El Puerto was actually
their father in more than the metaphorical sense. Gabriel confirms
his suspicions.

When Antonio asks why there is evil in the world, Gabriel
replies that people call things they do not understand “evil.” He
explains that understanding comes only with life experience. He
says that acquiring knowledge is not as easy as swallowing the host
at Communion. He believes that Ultima’s magic comes from the understanding
she has gained from her years of working with the sick and the frightened.

During the summer with his Luna uncles, Antonio’s nightmares cease
to disturb his sleep. Although Antonio does not know what his future
holds, he is glad to learn the Luna way of life. When Tenorio’s sick
daughter dies at the end of the summer, he vows to everyone who
will listen that he will kill Ultima. Pedro resolves to stand by Ultima
this time. He tells Antonio that they must drive to Guadalupe directly
after supper, so he sends Antonio to Prudencio’s house to pack for
the journey home.

During the walk to Prudencio’s home, Tenorio tries to
trample Antonio with his horse. Antonio throws himself down the
embankment to hide in the bushes by the river. Tenorio shouts that
the owl is Ultima’s spirit, so he plans to kill Ultima by killing
the owl. Antonio runs ten miles to Guadalupe to warn Ultima. When
he reaches his parents’ house, Pedro’s car screeches to a halt in
front of the house. Gabriel runs to the door and asks what has happened.
Pedro asks if they have seen Antonio.

Meanwhile, Antonio spies Tenorio near a juniper tree.
When Antonio shouts a warning, Tenorio aims a rifle at him. Ultima
calls her owl, and it attacks Tenorio. Tenorio shoots it during
the struggle and aims his gun at Antonio again. Before he can kill
Antonio, Pedro shoots Tenorio dead. Antonio takes the dying owl
to Ultima’s bedside. Ultima explains that her teacher told her to
do good works but not to interfere with destiny. Her death and Tenorio’s
death are simply the restoration of the original harmony. She tells
Antonio that he must burn all of her possessions at sunrise. Tonight,
he must bury the owl next to a forked juniper tree. Before she dies,
Ultima blesses Antonio “in the name of all that is good and strong
and beautiful.” He goes and buries the owl.